CHRISTA DONNER
Christa Donner is an artist, mother, curator, and organizer who investigates the human/animal body and its metaphors through a variety of media, from large-scale drawing and installation to guided visualizations and small-press publications. Her practice often incorporates social exchange and collaboration rooted in personal narrative and sensory experience. Donner’s work is exhibited widely, including projects for the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Berlin, Germany), The Worldly House at dOCUMENTA 13 (Kassel, Germany); BankArt NYK (Yokohama, Japan); Chiaki Kamikawa Contemporary Art (Paphos, Cyprus); the Museum Bellerive (Zurich, Switzerland), ANTI Festival of Contemporary Art (Kuopio, Finland), the Centro Columbo Americano (Medellin, Colombia), and throughout the United States.
Artist’s Statement:
My studio practice explores the biological and social systems of humans in conversation with other organisms, proposing speculative systems through which to skillshare, adapt, and evolve. I also consider my experience as a mother and an educator relevant here: as I engage with young people I find my time horizons greatly expanded, offering a deeper connection both to the past and to many possible futures. I aim to activate such time travel more broadly and intentionally as an entry point toward confronting the realities of climate breakdown as well as finding a way forward. The importance of caregivers and teachers in such a process cannot be overstated: in fostering empathy, creative problem-solving, resilience, and a fierce love for the natural world, we play a critical role in shaping the future.